Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-17

crossed the river at DIiuscpOib anu WILL
mepced their eastward march. To cooper
ate with Hooker's movement the two bri-
pades of Generals Hazen and Turchin were
detailed and placed under the command of
General w. F. Smith, the chief engineer of
the army, for the capture OF Browns fer
~. Early on the evening of the 18th OF
October, Turchin's brigade, with a battery
Of artillery, crossed the river at Chatta-
uooga and halted under cover OF the woods
beyond until midnight, when they march
ed across Moccasin point to the vicinity
of Browns Ferry. At midnight the troops
of General Hazen. embarked in pontoon
boats and silently floated down the river,
keeping close to the right or
northern shore, passing the
rebel pickets they arrived at the
ferry about 4 o'clock on the morning OF the
9th. AS they headed their boats for the
southern shore they were greeted with \
volley from the Rebel pickets at that sta
tion. Making the landing they quickly
disembarked and drove the Rebels from the
crest Of the hill on the left of the ferry road
and commenced the work Of ~intrenching
their position, while the boats were brought
across to the northern shore for Turchin's
troops. The rebels were reinforced and
made an attack on Hazen's position, but
were calamity Tepulsed. The boats were
quickly filled and started for the southern
side. As the neared they shore they were
met by volleys of musketry ron the Rebels
on the right of the gorge. Quickly land
ing, they charged the hill and drove the
Rebels to the valley beyond, and the work
of intrenching the position commenced.
As soon as the last of Turchin's troops
were brought over the laying of the pom
toOn bridge commenced, and by noon Of
the 9th the work was completed and the ar
tillery brought over and placed in position.
On the evening of the 9th HoOker's COM
mand arrived at. the head OF the valley, GO
ing into camp about two miles from the
ferry, with the exception OF General
Geary's division, who encamped near
Wauhatchie, some two or three miles from
HOward's Eleventh Corps, guarding the
road to Kelly's ferry. Longstreet in COM
mand of the forces on Lookout mountain
and in the valley beyond Lookout creek
could, from its elevated position, see all
the movements made by the troops in the
valleys below and the position Of Towards
and Geary's troops. Designing and plan
ing a night attack upon the two forces,
he proceeded TO get his force across Look
out creek and between the two Union
camps. Near midnight n furious attack
was made on Geary's troops. General
Hooker, hearing the sound of the guns as
the attack was made, started a division to
Geary's resistance. Proceeding but a short
distance they encountered another detach-
ment OF LOngstreet's command, and the
second battle commenced. Rapidly push
ing the rebels back, Hooker was enabled
to reinforce Gelry, and for nearly two
hours the battle in the darkness continued.
One of Rockers brigades made "A gallant
charge, capturing a hill that was almost
inaccessible by daylight. The force sent
against Howard was intended to hold hin
in check and prevent reinforcement being
sent to Geary until he could be driven
back or captured, and then the combined
forces of Longstreet could be turned against
Howard. The gallant behavior of Geary's
troops and the repulse of the attack made
against Howard decided the battle i'll favor
OF the Union forces. LOngstreet then
withdrew his force across Lookout creek,
leaving over 400 of his dead and wounded
on the field of battle. The work OIL the
roads between Browns and kelly's ferries
was rapidly pushed forward and by the list
of November the lew route was completed
and well guarded from attack, so that
wagon trains could safely pass, thus prac-
tically ending the siege Of Chattanooga.